2017 Big Sky Season Preview

(STATS) - North Dakota was the favorite in the Big Sky Conference preseason football polls, but no teams face more pressure than Eastern Washington and Montana.

Eastern has won four of the last five titles, including a share with North Dakota last season, and advanced to the FCS semifinals. The Eagles are transitioning to a new head coach in Aaron Best, promoted from the offensive line position.

Montana has won more Big Sky titles than any program, but the conference's other big national team with Eastern slumped to a 3-5 Big Sky record in coach Bob Stitt's second season last year.

In the Big Sky's preseason polls, Eastern was picked to finish second, right behind North Dakota, and Montana a mere sixth. Neither program will be satisfied unless it's sitting on top of the 13-team conference - the FCS' largest - come late November.

"Every year is a new team," Best said. "Everybody wants to make comparisons to the 2016 team, but we want the 2017 team to develop. Our identity is yet to be determined and that's what we are starting to do."

Said Stitt: "We'll use these polls as motivation to play a complete season and finish where we want to be in the final poll."

Seven different Big Sky teams have made the playoffs the last two seasons, although none in both seasons. Plenty are legitimate contenders this season.

Following is a team-by-team breakdown of the 2017 Big Sky race and STATS' predicted order of finish:

OUTLOOK: Last year's co-champion Fighting Hawks are primed for a deeper run in the FCS playoffs after qualifying for the first time and falling to Richmond in the second round. They suffered a pivotal injury in the preseason when cornerback and NFL prospect Deion Harris was lost to a season-ending lower leg injury. Their defense had already lost some key parts from a unit that paced the Big Sky in scoring defense (22 ppg) and rushing defense (91.3 ypg). However, Reyes is back to try to win a second straight Big Sky defensive player of the year award. The offense is stacked in the running game, including the versatile Santiago, and QB Strudsrud is a 3 1/2-year starter who knows how to run the attack. It helps to get Eastern Washington in the Alerus Center.

OUTLOOK: Best, a 16-year assistant at Eastern Washington, has succeeded the highly successful Beau Baldwin as head coach. Although the playing style won't change significantly, the high-flying Eagles want to get more out of the running game so they can control the clock better. Gubrud, who works out of the shotgun, was their leading rusher last season, but he set the FCS single-season record for passing yards. The loss of Kupp, who holds most of the major receiving records in the FCS, and fellow 1,000-yard receivers Kendrick Bourne and Shaq Hill, is immense. Defensively, the Eagles were much stronger last year under coordinator Jeff Schmedding than in previous seasons, and that helped them to come within a last-second touchdown against Youngstown State of reaching the FCS championship game. The non-conference schedule is exceptionally tough leading into the Big Sky opener at Montana.

OUTLOOK: With Protheroe leading the way as a senior, the Mustangs' triple option will continue to be one of the top rushing attacks in the FCS. The key offensively is for Jenkins to make a smooth transition into the No. 1 role and to overcome the loss of three offensive linemen. It helps the defense to have all four starters back in the secondary because the Mustangs have to generate more of a pass rush. They slumped over the final month last season, but it was successful campaign overall with a trip to the playoffs.

OUTLOOK: The Grizzlies seek to make amends for last year's collapse in the Big Sky schedule, which left their locker room divided. It's put Stitt under the microscope following his successful debut in 2015. Phillips should fit into the offense nicely as the Grizzlies replace Gustafson in their first-paced attack. The defense is usually one of the best in the conference and this year's front seven will be ferocious, including a defensive player of the year candidate in Buss. The Grizzlies are playing an FBS opponent (Washington) for only the third time since 2007.

OUTLOOK: After last year's first playoff appearance since 2009, the Wildcats are hoping Cantwell will be a breakout player behind center. They ranked only 10th in the Big Sky in scoring last season, but Cantwell has dual-threat ability and will benefit from one of the nation's leading tight ends, Vollert, and experienced running backs. Their defense returns nine starters, including NFL prospect Johnson, but standout linebacker Emmett Tela, who was a medical redshirt a year ago, left the program during the offseason.

OUTLOOK: The Lumberjacks flopped as the Big Sky's preseason favorite last season, but they were forced to overcome the loss of Cookus, the 2015 STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award winner, to a season-ending shoulder injury. He returns to one of the nation's more dangerous receiving duos in Butler (two straight 1,000-yard seasons) and Marks as well as last year's breakout running back, Logan. The defense isn't as stacked, returning only three starters. Last year's Big Sky co-champs, Eastern Washington and North Dakota, are not on the schedule.

OUTLOOK: Warren says the Thunderbirds "have to leave no doubt" this season. They made the playoffs in 2013 and '15, and it's another odd-numbered year. Their 4-3 defense will be particularly strong with the likes of Needham, Torgerson and a returning Ahanonu. The question is whether there is enough talent in the skill positions after the T-birds lost Brown and Sharp. Tyler, who was solid running the spread last season, is being pushed by Zwahlen, a Hawaii transfer. A strong non-conference schedule precedes the Big Sky slate.

OUTLOOK: Season-closing wins over UC Davis and rival Montana gave a lift to Choate's first season in Bozeman. Murray, the Big Sky freshman of the year, is a lightning-quick runner whom new QBs coach DeNarius McGhee, the former MSU great, will try to develop into a better passer. The defense, with eight returning starters, also should be improved, led by Bignell and Collins. It helps to get back long-range kicker Daly after he missed last season. The schedule is quite difficult, so a winning record is unlikely.

OUTLOOK: The Bears lost some seniors who were pivotal players in the success of the last two seasons. It will help if Knipp, who stood out as a freshman in 2015, can make it back strong from last year's season-ending shoulder injury. Riek (736 rushing yards) will take pressure off the QB and Deggs turned 10 of his 34 receptions into touchdowns last season. The Bears are rebuilding on defense, so they brought in a handful of midyear transfers to help facilitate it. The road portion of the schedule is particularly difficult, including FBS trips to Florida and Colorado.

OUTLOOK: After regressing from a 9-3 playoff season in 2015, the Vikings hope to get back on their feet. Some young players saw a lot of action last season, and eventually that will pay off. The quarterback position is unsettled, and they would be better off if Kraght (36 receptions) can stay at wide receiver and Alexander settles in as a redshirt freshmen. Fortunately for the Vikings, they have an experienced offensive line. The defense, which slumped to No. 10 in the conference overall, will play better with improved health.

OUTLOOK: Only one of Sears' five seasons as a Big Sky head coach (Weber State and Sac State) has ended with more than two wins. The key for this year's team is to play with consistency, and last year's young team is now led by seniors and juniors. Ketteringham transferred out of the program and Robinson was a senior last season, so two transfers, Thomson and Ajeigbe, figure to be the starting quarterback and running back, respectively. The defense gave up too many big plays last year, but Sorensen should have a big senior season.

OUTLOOK: With Idaho a year away from rejoining the Big Sky, Idaho State surely feels pressure to rejuvenate its football program. The Bengals fired coach Mike Kramer (the conference's 2014 coach of the year) and brought back Phenicie, who had left for an assistant's job at Northern Iowa, to become a first-time head coach. Gueller will be improved, but the key skill position players surrounding him are young. The defense allowed a gaudy 41 points and 502 yards per game. Hoping for improvement, the unit is led by Jenkins and Martin. The schedule-maker was kind because co-champs Eastern Washington and North Dakota, Northern Arizona and Southern Utah are not on it.

OUTLOOK: Hawkins, a UC Davis alum who had a 53-11 record at Boise State from 2001-05, but struggled to go 19-39 at Colorado from 2006-10, returns to try to lift the Aggies' struggling program. He added a school-record 32-member signing class as he tries to reshape the roster. But the Aggies are breaking in a new quarterback and the home portion of the schedule doesn't have a single gimme. Doss is the team's go-to player and defenses will focus on him. The defense has to improve a lot. Over the last the last three seasons, the Aggies are 2-16 on the road.